More private sector involvement will enhance health – Medicard director

A healthcare provider, Mr Ezekiel Eseagwu, has called for more private sector involvement in the nation’s health care system to enhance accessibility and affordability among Nigerians.

Eseagwu, Executive Director of Medicard Health Management, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday.

“The best way to improve healthcare is to allow the private sector to do more and support initiatives coming up.

“We have up to 20 million people in Lagos State, but not up to 50 per cent of them can access healthcare because they can’t afford it or it is far from them.

“So, this should be a call to action to the government at all levels to allow the private sector do more to improve the health care system,’’ he said.

The director said his company had entered into a partnership with the African Clean-up Initiative (ACI) to enable Nigerians to pay for healthcare service with recyclable wastes.

“In March, we signed MoU with ACI where people can exchange their thrash for health and if others can come up with different initiatives, it will bring relief to more people,’’ he said.

On services rendered, Eseagwu said the company provides all-inclusive offers, ranging from healthcare to lifestyle.

“With our service cards, our clients can also enjoy a discount on other services apart from healthcare, telemedicine inclusive.

“You can get a discount to enjoy in Spar’s and salon because our service is a balance between healthcare and lifestyle,’’ he said.